Diagnostic accuracy of CRP & WCC in abdomino-pelvic diseases of non-traumatic acute abdomen by taking CT findings as gold standard

Acute abdomen is a common presentation to many emergency departments worldwide. It is important to differentiate self-limiting causes and serious surgical causes. Inflammatory markers such as WCC and CRP currently being used to determine the cause, assess severity and guide further investigation for acute abdomen. The aim of this study was to determine diagnostic accuracy of C - reactive protein and White Cell Count in abdomino-pelvic diseases of non-traumatic acute abdomen by taking CT scan findings as gold standard. We found that CRP levels of above 100 were highly sensitive (94%) and specific (92%) for an acute surgical abdomen. WCC was not as accurate at determining an acute surgical abdomen due to reasons such as neutropenic sepsis.